The purpose of this page is to write a brief story about how your family commemorates ANZAC day and why ANZAC day is significant to you.
Instructions:
1. Rename the page and save it as My ANZAC Story - your name.
2. Think about how your family has commemorated ANZAC day and your families ANZAC History. Did any of your relative serve in the previous conflicts or wars? Plan out your ANZAC Story. Consider the 6 core questions - What, When, Who, Where, Why and How as starting points for your story.
What do you do to commemorate ANZAC day?
Who of your relatives were involved, where and when?
Why is it important to you and your family?
3. Please add images if you would like to, but check with your parents and teachers first.
My ANZAC Story
Anzac day isn't exactly something my family celebrates all that much. I went to a local dawn service at Walkerville this year because this year marks the 100th anniversary of World War 1. The first dawn service I attended was in 2012 also at Walkerville and I represented the Wilderness Junior School.
A few of my ancestors served in Gallipoli WWI. On my mothers, mothers side there were a few old Uncles (surname: Heithersay) and her mothers first cousin (Gordon James Alford) who went to Gallipoli
and on my mother's fathers side there were two great grandfathers who also went to Gallipoli - Duncan Gilchrist McCurdie and Archibald McCurdie. On my father's, fathers side an ancestor John Grant Duncan-Hughes referred to as Jack was involved in WWI. In World War II my mothers grandma looked after 2 relatives: George Read and Geoff Cullen. They were airmen in WWII and stayed with my grandma on leave when she was a little girl; they both survived the war.
World War I
Private Gordon James Alford -
Service Number: 1073 Born: 28/12/1892 Heritage: Scottish Occupation: accountant
Rank: Private
Unit: 10th Australian Infantry Battalion
Service: Australian Army
Conflict: First World War (1914-1918)
Date of Death: 07/05/1915 (marked 100 years of his death 2 weeks ago)
Private Gordon James Alford was the second-last child out of Mary Ann and Matthew's 9 children. He was born on the 28th of December 1892 in Yongala, SA. He attended school at Peterborough and went onto becoming an accountant.
After the outbreak of WW1 Alford (who had been working as a Clerk) enlisted for service with the 10th battalion at Morphettville. He was appointed to battalion headquarters as a batman. He embarked on the 10th battalion from Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide on the 20th of October aboard the transport ship - Ascanius. This ship sailed as part of the first convoy of Australian troops to war. After arriving in Egypt in early December the 10th battalion had several months of training in the desert. In March they sailed to Lemnos in preparation for what became the Gallipoli campaign.
Alford was part of the first wave of Australian troops that were ashore in the pre-dawn hours of the 25th of April. He has been ashore for a week before he was wounded on the 10th battalions frontline positions at shell green. He was taken to 1st Casualty Clearing station to have his wounding treated. On the 7th of May the Casualty Clearing station was bombed by the Turks and Alford was once again wounded. He was transferred to HWT Lutzow where he passed away as a result of his wounds.
Private Gordon James Alford, only 22 years of age was buried at sea that evening. Today Alford is commemorated on the memorial to the missing in Lone Pine Cemetery in Gallipoli. His name is listed on the roll of honour at the Australian War Memorial.
Duncan Gilchrist McCurdie-
Service Number: 2668
Religion: Presbyterian
Heritage: Scottish
Occupation: Fitter
Martial Stauts: Single
AWM embarkation roll number: 14/16/3
Place of Birth: Glasgow, Scotland
Duncan Gilchrist McCurdie was aged 33 when he embarked from Brisbane on the 19th of September 1916. He was a 4th Pioneer Battalion (5th reinforcements) from April 1916 - August 1917. He served in the First World War on the Western front and received the British War medal and the Victory medal. He returned to Australia on the 23rd of July 1919.
attached below is a copy of his enrolment:
John Grant Duncan-Hughes -
Place of Birth: Hughes Park, Watervale
Place of Death: Robe Terrace, Medindie
Heritage: Scottish
Occupation: Member of Parliament (of the Senate)
Martial Status: Married to Gertrude Rosalie Dean
Born: 1st September 1882
Died: 13 August 1962
John Grant Duncan (aka Jack) son of Sir John James Duncan later adopted the name John Grant Duncan-Hughes in loving memory of his childless uncle Sir Walter Watson Hughes. He was born on a family property: Hughes Park (owned by my grandparents Mr and Mrs John Gordon Duncan today and home to my uncle and auntie Mr and Mrs Andrew Robert Duncan and there children). He was educated at St Peters College Adelaide and was a member of parliament.
After the outbreak of WWI Jack travelled to England and was commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery (Special Reserve) in September 1915. He served in distinction in France and Belgium rising to the rank of acting major. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1918 and the Belgian Croix de Guerre. He was later made a member of the Royal Victorian Order.
In 1937 Duncan-Hughes supported Britain's rearmament policy and encourage Australia to follow the same path and train more soldiers which would offend not only Australia but also Britain in the event of a military attack upon either country.
He was buried at Penwortham Cemetery like a lot of my deceased family members.
Purpose:
The purpose of this page is to write a brief story about how your family commemorates ANZAC day and why ANZAC day is significant to you.Instructions:
1. Rename the page and save it as My ANZAC Story - your name.2. Think about how your family has commemorated ANZAC day and your families ANZAC History. Did any of your relative serve in the previous conflicts or wars? Plan out your ANZAC Story. Consider the 6 core questions - What, When, Who, Where, Why and How as starting points for your story.
- What do you do to commemorate ANZAC day?
- Who of your relatives were involved, where and when?
- Why is it important to you and your family?
3. Please add images if you would like to, but check with your parents and teachers first.My ANZAC Story
Anzac day isn't exactly something my family celebrates all that much. I went to a local dawn service at Walkerville this year because this year marks the 100th anniversary of World War 1. The first dawn service I attended was in 2012 also at Walkerville and I represented the Wilderness Junior School.A few of my ancestors served in Gallipoli WWI. On my mothers, mothers side there were a few old Uncles (surname: Heithersay) and her mothers first cousin (Gordon James Alford) who went to Gallipoli
and on my mother's fathers side there were two great grandfathers who also went to Gallipoli - Duncan Gilchrist McCurdie and Archibald McCurdie. On my father's, fathers side an ancestor John Grant Duncan-Hughes referred to as Jack was involved in WWI. In World War II my mothers grandma looked after 2 relatives: George Read and Geoff Cullen. They were airmen in WWII and stayed with my grandma on leave when she was a little girl; they both survived the war.
World War I
Private Gordon James Alford -
Service Number: 1073Born: 28/12/1892
Heritage: Scottish
Occupation: accountant
Rank: Private
Unit: 10th Australian Infantry Battalion
Service: Australian Army
Conflict: First World War (1914-1918)
Date of Death: 07/05/1915 (marked 100 years of his death 2 weeks ago)
Private Gordon James Alford was the second-last child out of Mary Ann and Matthew's 9 children. He was born on the 28th of December 1892 in Yongala, SA. He attended school at Peterborough and went onto becoming an accountant.
After the outbreak of WW1 Alford (who had been working as a Clerk) enlisted for service with the 10th battalion at Morphettville. He was appointed to battalion headquarters as a batman. He embarked on the 10th battalion from Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide on the 20th of October aboard the transport ship - Ascanius. This ship sailed as part of the first convoy of Australian troops to war. After arriving in Egypt in early December the 10th battalion had several months of training in the desert. In March they sailed to Lemnos in preparation for what became the Gallipoli campaign.
Alford was part of the first wave of Australian troops that were ashore in the pre-dawn hours of the 25th of April. He has been ashore for a week before he was wounded on the 10th battalions frontline positions at shell green. He was taken to 1st Casualty Clearing station to have his wounding treated. On the 7th of May the Casualty Clearing station was bombed by the Turks and Alford was once again wounded. He was transferred to HWT Lutzow where he passed away as a result of his wounds.
Private Gordon James Alford, only 22 years of age was buried at sea that evening. Today Alford is commemorated on the memorial to the missing in Lone Pine Cemetery in Gallipoli. His name is listed on the roll of honour at the Australian War Memorial.
Duncan Gilchrist McCurdie-
Service Number: 2668Religion: Presbyterian
Heritage: Scottish
Occupation: Fitter
Martial Stauts: Single
AWM embarkation roll number: 14/16/3
Place of Birth: Glasgow, Scotland
Duncan Gilchrist McCurdie was aged 33 when he embarked from Brisbane on the 19th of September 1916. He was a 4th Pioneer Battalion (5th reinforcements) from April 1916 - August 1917. He served in the First World War on the Western front and received the British War medal and the Victory medal. He returned to Australia on the 23rd of July 1919.
attached below is a copy of his enrolment:
John Grant Duncan-Hughes -
Place of Birth: Hughes Park, WatervalePlace of Death: Robe Terrace, Medindie
Heritage: Scottish
Occupation: Member of Parliament (of the Senate)
Martial Status: Married to Gertrude Rosalie Dean
Born: 1st September 1882
Died: 13 August 1962
John Grant Duncan (aka Jack) son of Sir John James Duncan later adopted the name John Grant Duncan-Hughes in loving memory of his childless uncle Sir Walter Watson Hughes. He was born on a family property: Hughes Park (owned by my grandparents Mr and Mrs John Gordon Duncan today and home to my uncle and auntie Mr and Mrs Andrew Robert Duncan and there children). He was educated at St Peters College Adelaide and was a member of parliament.
After the outbreak of WWI Jack travelled to England and was commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery (Special Reserve) in September 1915. He served in distinction in France and Belgium rising to the rank of acting major. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1918 and the Belgian Croix de Guerre. He was later made a member of the Royal Victorian Order.
In 1937 Duncan-Hughes supported Britain's rearmament policy and encourage Australia to follow the same path and train more soldiers which would offend not only Australia but also Britain in the event of a military attack upon either country.
He was buried at Penwortham Cemetery like a lot of my deceased family members.
Archibald McCurdie